Principal Engineer

About the role

We are seeking a highly accomplished Principal Scientist, Principal Engineer (PE), or Principal Geologist (PG) to join our New Jersey Land Quality & Remediation (LQR) environmental practice. This is a senior leadership role for a proven seller-doer who brings an established book of business, deep client relationships, and a demonstrated ability to drive profitable growth.

We are SLR Consulting (US), a 5,000+ coast-to-coast team of advisory, environmental/engineering, and regulatory professionals. We deliver environmental and sustainability services to our clients through the integration of over 30 advisory, technical environmental, and engineering disciplines to help clients address some of their most complex challenges around sustainability. We are Making Sustainability Happen.

Role

In this role, you will partner closely with our in-house Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP) to expand and strengthen our investigation, remediation, and regulatory compliance services throughout New Jersey. The ideal candidate pairs technical credibility with strong business development leadership and maintains a robust professional network across industrial, commercial, municipal, and regulatory stakeholders.

This is a highly visible, client-facing, strategic position offering significant autonomy, influence, and long-term growth opportunity. Success in this role requires exceptional communication skills, strong project and financial management discipline, and a sustained track record of winning and delivering complex environmental work.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and grow an active book of business across environmental investigation, remediation, compliance, and related consulting services.
• Leverage existing client relationships and generate new business through networking, conferences, industry associations, and targeted outreach.
• Lead proposal strategy, scope development, and pricing in support of market growth objectives.
• Function as a seller-doer, balancing business development with senior technical and project leadership responsibilities.
• Identify strategic market opportunities, client needs, and emerging service lines.
• Serve as Principal-in-Charge or senior technical lead for complex environmental, geologic, or engineering projects.
• Provide high-level technical oversight, including data interpretation, modeling, remedy evaluation, design, and implementation.
• Review and approve work plans, RI/RA deliverables, remedial action alternatives, remedial action designs, and associated technical reports.
• Collaborate with the firm's LSRP to ensure NJDEP regulatory alignment, defensibility, and project success.
• Manage project financials, schedules, staffing, and resource planning.
• Act as a trusted advisor to industrial, commercial, municipal, and legal-sector clients.
• Lead key client meetings, technical discussions, and strategic project planning sessions.
• Support regulatory interactions (not as LSRP of record), including preparing clients for NJDEP communications and assisting with project pathway negotiations.
• Mentor and provide technical and professional development guidance to junior and mid-level staff.
• Promote a culture of technical excellence, responsiveness, collaboration, and strong client service.
• Support recruiting and talent development to grow the LQR practice.

Working @ SLR

• With us, there is no doubt you'll grow your subject-matter expertise and industry knowledge.
• We care about investing in our employees for the long-run, and if you ask our team, they'll tell you that's just one of the many benefits of working here.
• We want to be a place where you can experience career growth and satisfaction for many years.

Here's what else you'll enjoy as part of our team

• Competitive total compensation package including medical, dental, orthodontia, vision, FSA/HSA, generous PTO accrual, 10 paid holidays, 401(k) retirement account with company matching program, company paid life insurance, short & long term disability insurance, and employee assistance program.
• The salary range for this position is $140k - $190k. Final agreed upon compensation will be commensurate with individual education, professional designation, experience, internal parity, and location.
• Full-time, permanent role with opportunities for professional growth and advancement

Qualifications/Education

• Bachelor's and/or Master's degree in Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Geology, Hydrogeology, or a related scientific field.
• 15+ years of relevant environmental consulting experience.
• Active New Jersey PE or PG license required.
• Demonstrated experience delivering environmental site investigation and remediation services involving soil, groundwater, soil vapor, indoor air, and sediment.
• Verifiable, recurring book of business with established clients and revenue.
• Proven success in a seller-doer model, including winning work and delivering complex projects.
• Deep knowledge of NJDEP regulations, Technical Requirements, SRRA, remediation standards, and New Jersey-specific compliance pathways.
• Familiarity with adjacent state programs (PA, NY) and emerging contaminants strongly preferred.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with strong commercial acumen.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to balance multiple priorities.
• Demonstrated professional judgment, attention to detail, and a history of producing high-quality work products.
• Current or completed 40-hour OSHA HAZWOPER and 8-hour refresher training.

Preferred

• Established professional network within industrial manufacturing, real estate, energy, brownfield redevelopment, and/or municipal markets.
• Experience with vapor intrusion, groundwater remedy optimization, sediment remediation, and emerging contaminants.
• Experience building, leading, or scaling a regional or state-level practice.
• Experience using Deltek or similar project management systems.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) are at the core of who we are and want to be.

At SLR, we embrace diverse cultures, perspectives, skills, and experiences within and outside our organization. We respect and celebrate differences and want to ensure that we continuously strive to build a place where everyone feels included and is encouraged to be their authentic self.